Applicator for artificial eyelashes

ABSTRACT

An eyelash applicator for assisting in the attachment of an artificial eyelash to the human eyelid and having individually operable and releasable clamping jaws which support the artificial eyelash at spaced points and in such a manner as to facilitate correct placement thereof to the eyelid.

United States Patent Roland W. Frieder 5555 S. Everett Ave., Chicago,111. 60637 [21] Appl. No. 770,770

[22] Filed Oct. 25, 1968 [45] Patented Jan. 19,1971

[72] Inventor [54] APPLICATOR FOR ARTIFICIAL EYELASHES 4 Claims, 8Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 132/31 A45d 2/00 Field ofSearch 132/31, 37,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,201,144 5/1940 Scott24/258 2,268,082 12/1941 Phillips, Sr... 132/53 3,101,185 8/1963Gustafson 248/316 3,196,884 7/1965 Safianoff 132/46 3,367,336 2/1968Eizenberg 128/321 Primary Examiner-Louis G. Mancene AssistantExaminer-Gregory E. McNeil] Attorney-Norman H. Gerlach ABSTRACT: Aneyelash applicator for assisting in the attachment of an artificialeyelash to the human eyelid and having individually operable andreleasable clamping jaws which support the artificial eyelash at spacedpoints and in such a manner as to facilitate correct placement thereofto the eyelid.

APPLICATOR FOR ARTIFICIAL EYELASHES The present invention relatesgenerally to an applicator for use in holding an artificial eyelashduring application thereof to the eyelid so that, by proper manipulationthereof, the artificial eyelash may be caused to conform to thecurvature of the eyelid and the former applied to the latter in ,a moreefficient manner and with greater ease than has heretofore been possiblewith conventional applicators for the same purpose.

It is among the general objects of the present invention to provide anovel applicator of the character outlined above which arranges andmaintains the artificial eyelash in a shape which conformsclosely to theshape of the eyelid and enables the user of the applicator to apply theattaching margin or selvage edge of the artificial eyelash to theforward rim of the eyelid in a progressive manner from the medial regionof the artificial eyelash to the opposite ends thereof so that evennessof application is assured.

He retofore, any conventional artificial eyelash applicator usuallyemploys a jaw-type clamping device which engages the artificial eyelashalong the selvage edge throughout the latter's length, thus maintainingsuch edge in a rigid condition conforming to the curvature of theclamping jaws. With the selvage edge thus firmly held, the usual eyelashadhesive is applied and the selvage edge is then forced against theforward rim of the eyelid, contact being made coextensively andsimultaneously at all points therealong. Such a procedure is notconducive toward even application, especially if the curvature of theclamping jaws does not conform precisely to the natural curvature of theeyelid. Furthermore, the heavy pressure that is required to effect theadhesion coextensively along the line of juncture between the artificialeyelash selvage edge and the forward rim of the eyelid frequently causesflinching so that several attempts must be made before satisfactoryapplication is attained. Additionally, previously designed applicatorsare relatively heavy and bulky, embodying as they do spring devices formaintaining jaw pressure and bearings for effecting jaw alignment. Thus,not only are they difficult to manipulate but they are relatively costlyto manufacture.

Another limitation that is attendant upon the construction and use of aconventional jaw-type eyelash applicator is concerned with a matter ofvisibility. Practically all artificial eyelashes are applied to theupper eyelid in front of a mirror and, thus, due to the fact that theopposed jaws which are associated with the applicator are of full eyelidwidth so as to fit the entire arcuate extent of the eyelash, the visionof the eye which is associated with the eyelid undergoing treatment iscompletely blocked and the application is made solely by the sight whichis obtained from the other eye which is not in direct line with theoperation being conducted.

The present invention is designed to overcome the abovenoted limitationsthat are attendant upon the construction and use of conventionalartificial eyelash applicators, and toward this end, the inventioncontemplates the provision of a novel applicator which may be madeentirely from a suitable plastic sheet material by simple stamping andshaping operations, the completed assembled applicator embodying twolaterally spaced pairs of clamping jaws which engage and support theartificial eyelash immediately behind and alongside the selvage edgeportion thereof and at spaced apart regions along the selvage edge, twopairs of jaws being fixed with respect to each other and beingselectively operable to engage and release the artificial eyelash byindependent manipulation thereof. The opening and closing movements ofeach pair of jaws are effected by a novel form of latch mechanism whichconstitutes one of the principal features of the present invention andincludes a swingable latch arm which is capable of being manipulated bya flick of the finger betweena jaw-engaging position wherein itsassociated jaws assume their closed position of eyelash engagement, anda jaw-releasing position herein said jaws completely release theartificial eyelash. Because the two pairs of jaws are independentlyoperable, installation of the artificial eyelash in its supportedposition within the applicator in the proper relationship forapplication to the eyelid is facilitated, adjustment of the eyelashbeing made by successive manipulation of the two pairs ofjaws until thedesired position is attained. Release of the artificial eyelash afterapplication of the eyelash to the eyelid is facilitated by asubstantially simultaneous manipulation of both pairs of jaws. Thenature of the novel latch mechanisms for the two pairs of clamping jawsis such that, unlike conventional applicators, direct finger pressure tothe clamping jaws for jaw-closing purposes is not required inasmuch asmanipulation of the swingable arms of the latch mechanisms exerts acamming action on the jaws tending to close them automatically. Thus, atno time is the operator obliged to maintain finger pressure on any partof the applicator to hold either pair ofjaws in its open position and,conversely, finger pressure is not required to maintain either pairofjaws in its closedposition.

Although the present applicator may be used in a variety of ways toeffect artificial eyelash attachment so that thc invention is notlimited to any specific mode of application, the applicator is sodesigned that the two pairs of clamping jaws exert a light pressure onthe hairs of the artificial eyelash at spaced regions near the oppositeends of the series of hairs and immediately behind selvage edge of theeyelash. The portion of the selvage edge which spans the distancebetween the two pairs ofjaws extends in a substantially straight linewith only a small amount of overhand beyond the pairs of jaws, if any.With the artificial eyelash thus supported, the medial region of theselvage edge thereof may be caused to first engage the eyelid at itsmedial region on the rim thereof, after which a forward motion of theapplicator as a whole will affect eyelash application by a wrapping"action, so to speak, wherein the selvage edge is applied to the eyelidin a progressive manner in opposite directions away from the center ofthe selvage edge. During such application of the artificial eyelash, theedges of the clamping jaws serve as thrust members for forcibly pushingthe end regions of the selvage forwardly.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the fact that theaforementioned independently operable latch mechanisms, while capable ofbeing, manipulated to effect wither jawopening or jaw-closing movements,need not necessarily be manually actuated when it is desired to effectjaw-opening movements for eyelash release. These latch mechanisms areyieldingly biased to jaw-opening positions and the clamping jaws are sodesigned that by the application of slight manual pressure to eitherpair of jaws, the associated latch mechanism will automatically returnto its position of jaw release so that when the pressure on the jaws isrelieved, the jaws will move automatically to their open positions, allin a manner that will be made clear when. the nature of the inven tionis better understood.

The provision of an artificial eyelash applicator of the characterbriefly outlined above constitutes the principal object of the presentinvention, and it is a further and important object to provide suchapplicator wherein the shape characteristic of the applicator as a wholeconveniently accommodates the disposition of the fingers of the hand sothat very little practice is required by a novice when first using theapplicator. Thus, the present applicator lends itself to use by anamateur user, i.e., to home use, and no particular degree of skill isrequired for, its successful manipulation.

Insofar as visibility during eyelash application is concerned, thepresent applicator affords a direct line of vision toward the work thatis being performed. Due to the fact that the applicator is comprised ofmating jaws which are of U-shape design with widely separated jaw arms,visibility of operation is obtained from the same eye which is beingadorned with the artificial eyelash, the line of vision extendingbetween the widely spaced jaw arms. Since the operation also is visiblewith the other eye, the three-dimensional vision which is offered byboth eyes is available for eyelash application.

The provision of an artificial eyelash applicator which is extremelysimple in its construction and, therefore, may be manufactured at a lowcost; one which is comprised of a minimum number of moving parts and,therefore, is unlikely to get out of order; one which is rugged anddurable and, therefore, will withstand rough usage; one which, in themain. is fashioned from flat resilient sheet stock, preferably plasticsheet stock, although sheet metal stock is suitable, thereby furthercontributing to low production costs; one which may be made fromtransparent material so that its proper application to the artificialeyelash is visually facilitated; one which, in the preferred formthereof, is entirely self-contained and is devoid of separate biasingsprings and other separable parts; one which is of lightweightconstruction; one which is so designed that in connection with use theuser can readily see without interference the eyelid to which theartificial eyelash is to be applied; one which is attractive in itsappearance and pleasing in its design; and one which otherwise iswell-adapted to perform the services required of it, are furtherdesirable features which have been borne in mind in the production anddevelopment of the present invention.

Other objects and advantages of the invention, not at this timeenumerated. will readily suggest themselves as the following descriptionensues.

In the accompanying single sheet of drawings forming a part of thisspecification. one illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown byway of illustration and not by way of limitation.

In these drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of an artificial eyelashapplicator embodying the present invention and illustrating its mannerof use in applying an artificial eyelash to an eyelid;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the applicator;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the applicator;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the applicator, showing theclamping jaws associated therewith in their open eyelashreceivingposition;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 4 but showing the jawsin their closed eyelash-engaging position;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantiallycentrally and-longitudinally through one of the two pairs of clampingjaws and illustrating one of the novel latch mechanisms of the presentinvention in its position of jaw release;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 6 showing the illustratedlatch mechanism in its position of jaw'e ngagement; and

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of FIG. 6.

Referring now to the drawings in detail and in particular to FIG. I, aconventional artificial eyelash of the type designed to be applied bythe present applicator is designated in its entirety by the referencenumeral 10. This eyelash assembly in volves in its general organizationthe usual selvage edge 12 which is in the form of a narrow or thin,cordlike band or length of resilient fabric or other material whichconstitutes the selvage edge for a longitudinal series of closely spacedeyelash hairs 14 which are tied or otherwise secured at their proximateends to the selvage edge 12 in the usual manner of artificial eyelashconstruction. The selvage edge 12 possesses slight rigidity so as togive shape to the eyelash 10 as a whole, but it is capable of relativeease of deformation so that it may be shaped during application thereofto the users eyelid so as to conform to the curvature of the latter. Inthe better grades of artificial eyelashes the hairs proper 14 may bestrands of human or animal hair cut to the desired lengths. Ordinarily,

the hairs l4, and also the selvage edge 12 which supports the same, areoversize in length so that after the necessary measurements of theeyelid have been made, the selvage edge may be cut accordingly while thehairs 14 may subsequently be trimmed after the application of theeyelash 10 to the eyelid has been made. The specific character of theeyelash 10 forms no part of the present invention and the particulareyelash shown herein is merely exemplary of one form of artificialeyelash which is suitable for use in connection with the presentapplicator. Similarly, the mode of application of the v 1 eyelashsubsequently to be described is exemplary of a preferred mode ofapplication. utilizing the present applicator. and it will be understoodthat the procedure involved may be varied to accommodate the preferencesand skills of the user within the capabilities ofthe present applicator.

The improved artificial eyelash applicator is designated in its entiretyby the reference numeral 20 and preferably is comprised of two principalparts, namely, a lower jaw-forming forming part 22 and an upperjaw-forming part 24, the two parts being preferably formed of a suitableresilient plastic material and each part being cut or stamped from flatsheet stock, In order to facilitate visual application of the artificialeyelash 10 to the applicator prior to applying the same to the userseyelid, the sheet material from which the two parts 22 and 24 are cutmay be of a transparent nature although opaque sheet material such aslight gauge spring steel is contemplated. Irrespective, however, of theparticular material from which the parts 22 and 24 may be formed, theessential features of the invention are at all times preserved.

As best seen in FIG. 3. the lower jaw-forming part 22 is generally offiat U-shaped configuration and comprises a pair of spaced apartparallel tapered arms 26 and a connecting bight portion 28. The arms 24taper inwardly as they progress toward the distal ends thereof and areof equal length. The distal ends of these arms 26 are rounded asindicated at 30. The upper jaw-forming part of the applicator 20 isshaped similarly to the lower part 22 and comprises a pair of spacedapart parallel tapered arms 32 and a connecting bight portion 34.

The two jaw-forming parts 22 and 24 are secured together in coextensiveface-to-face relationship along their bight portions 28 and 34 asclearly shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a suitable adhesive being employed forthis purpose. Alternatively, a heat-sealing operation or the use ofrivets may be resorted to if desired. The left-hand arms .of the parts22 and 24, as viewed in FIG. l,form one pair of cooperating clampingjaws and the righthand arms of the two jaw-forming parts form a secondpair of cooperating clamping jaws. The two parallel arms 32 of the upperjaw-forming part 24 are of bowed configuration, the proximate regions ofthese arms diverging from the proximate regions of the arms 26 of thelower jaw-forming part 22 at an angle which is preferably on the orderof 30, thus providing inclined ramp portions or land surfaces 36. In thecentral regions of the arms 32, curved humplike crest portions 38 areformed and these portions merge with relatively sharp dropoff rampportions or land surfaces 40 (see FIGS. 6 and 7) having an angularitywith respect to the lowerjaw-forming part 22 on the order of 45. Theportions 42 of the arms 32 which extend from the land surfaces 40 to theextreme distal ends thereof resume their planar configuration and extendat a small angle of approximately 10 with respect to the lower part 22.The distal ends of the arms 32 are curved or rounded as indicated at 44and directly overlie the curved ends 30 of the arms 26 of the lowerjaw-forming part 22. Both the curved ends 30 and 44 are formed withshort relief areas.

As previously stated, the two jaw-forming parts 22 and 24 of theapplicator 10 are formed of resilient plastic material and the irregularangularity of the upper jaw part 24 is such that, in the normal or freecondition of the two adhered or connected parts, a fairly widedivergence between the corresponding pairs of arms 26 and 32 obtains, asindicated in dotted lines in FIG. 5. The corresponding pairs ofsuperimposed arms 26 and 32 constitute two pairs of independentlyoperable eyelashclamping jaws as previously pointed out and they aremaintained by their inherent resiliency in normally open positionsagainst the restraining action of a pair of latch mechanisms 50. Theselatch mechanisms are comprised of small T -shaped devices of moldedplastic material and each of which embodies a flexible or swingablelatch arm 52 and a generally cylindrical T-head or latch element 54. Thearm 52 of each latch mechanism forms, in effect, a tension link and thelatch element of each latch mechanism forms, in effect, a gripping piecefor swinging the latch arm 52. The proximate or base region of each link52 is embedded in the central region of one of the arms 26 of the lowerjaw-forming part 22 as indicated at 56, while the distal region thereofprojects through a slot 58in the crest portion 38 of the associated arm32. Each latch arm 52 is of such linear extent and the curvature of theassociated upper arm 32 is such that when the latch element 54 isshifted forwardly, i.e., to the right as viewed in FIGS. 4 and 6, thelatch element will rest upon the land surface 40 of the as sociatedupper arm 32 and the flexible latch arm 52 will thus draw the arm 32downwardly toward the underlying arm 26 while the distal end regions ofboth arms 32 and 26 will move into clamping engagement with each otherso that when a selected region of a given eyelash assembly is interposedbetween such distal end regions, a clamping and supporting action on theeyelash will take place. The arms 26 and 32 being of a flexible nature,a yieldable clamping action adequate to support the eyelash will beattained, but the clamping pressure will not be so great as to damage ordeform the eyelash as a whole; When the latch element is shiftedrearwardly, i.e., to the left as viewed in FIGS. 5 and 7, it will restupon the inclined portion 36, the length of the flexible latch arm 52being such that the upper arm 32 will spring away from the underlyinglower arm 26, thus separating the distal end regions of the two arms andreleasing the eyelash 10. It will be understood, of course, that the twolatch elements 54 constitute latch-manipulating members which may beindependently operated.

It is to be noted that the embedment of the lower ends of the latch arms52 in the arms 26 is so effected that the latch arms normally areinclined at a slight angle with respect to the lower jaw-forming part 22and in such a manner as normally to maintain the same in the positionsin which they are shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 wherein the associated arms 32remain in their open positions. It is to be further noted that the crestportion 38 of each of the two upper arms 32 establishes an overcenterposition for the associated latch element 54 and across which theelement must pass when moving in either direction from one extremeposition to the other. On either side of this crest portion, theassociated latch element will assume a position of stable equilibriumwherein theclampirig jaw structure which is afforded by the opposeddistal end regions of the arms 26 and 32 remain either open or closed asthe case may be.

The manner in which the present eyelash applicator is manipulated duringthe application of the artificial eyelash 10, will, of course, vary inaccordance with the preference and skill of the operator. Ordinarily,such artificial eyelashes are purchased items and the selvage edges 12thereof are inherently biased so that they extend along a curved line oflong radius which is appreciably longer than that of the curvature ofthe outer rim of the average eyelid. Excess length is pro vided so thatthe artificial eyelash may be trimmed, after suitable measurements ofthe eyelid to which it is to be applied have been made. Assuming,therefore, that a given eyelash 10 has been thus trimmed to size andthat the two pairs of clamping jaws are in their open positions, theoperator will then insert the eyelash 10 between the two pairs ofjaw-establishing arms 26, 32 with the selvage edge 12 presenting itsconcave side forwardly, after which the latch elements 54 will bemanipulated so that they pass over the dead center position previouslydescribed and assume the positions in which they are shown in FIGS. 5and 7. The initial positioning of the artificial eyelash is such thatthe jaws will close upon the eyelash at spaced regions near the pointswhere the hairs 14 are joined to the selvage edge 12 and immediatelybehind the selvage edge. Such a clamped position of the artificialeyelash is illustrated in dotted lines in FIG. 3. During the initialinstallation of the artificial eyelash 10 in the applicator 20, eitherupper clamping jaw may be released while the other jaw remains inengagement with the eyelash so that a progressive adjustment of saideyelash 10 may be made to attain the desired positioning thereof in theapplicator. In the final adjusted position of the eyelash 10, a portionof the selvage edge 12 will span the distance between the tips of thetwo pairs of jaws and extend in a substantially straight line as shownin FIG. 3. When the desired positioning of the artificial eyelash hasthus been attained, the latch elements 54 will have been moved forwardlyso that they rest upon the land surfaces40 while the latch arms 52 willbecome distorted as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7 and remain under forcedflexion. in this position of the applicator parts, the two pairs ofjawswill engage the hairs 14 of the artificial eyelash 10 under lightpressure and near the bases thereof when they are joined to the selvageedge.

When the desired positioning of the artificial eyelash 10 has been thuseffected, the operator may grasp the applicator with both hands byplacing the two thumbs in supporting relationship beneath the bightportion 34 of the lower jaw-forming part 22 and positioning the twomiddle fingers on the bight portion 28 of the upper part 24. The twoforefingers will then be in a convenient position for selectivemanipulation of the two latch elements 54, either independently orsimultaneously as desired. Assuming that the selvage edge 12 haspreviously been treated with a conventional adhesive. the applicator maythen be moved forwardly toward the users eyelid so that the medialregion of the selvage edge engages the medial region of the forward rimof the eyelid with hairs ofthe artificial eyelash overlying the hairs ofthe users naturalcyelashes. Continued forward movement of the applicatorin a careful controlled manner will cause the tips of the two pairsofjaws to push the end regions of the selvage edge forwardly so as towrap, so to speak, the selvage edge onto the rim of the eyelid in aprogressive manner laterally and away from the medial region of the rimof the eyelid and in opposite directions until such time as the selvageedge is in coextensive contact with the rim of the eyelid. In order tofacilitate this pushing of the end regions of the selvage edgeforwardly, the clearance regions such as are shown at 30a and 44a areprovided on the curved distal edges 30 and 44, respectively, of the arms26 and 32. These clearance regions serve the purpose of increasing theline of contact between the arms and the selvage edge 12.

After the artificial eyelash 10 has been properly applied to the eyelidin the manner indicated above, the jaws of the applicator may bereleased from the artilficial eyelash either by manipulating the latchelements 54 with the forefinger so as to cause them to move rearwardlypast their overcenter positions so that they will come to rest on theland surfaces 36, or by the simple expedient of exerting inward downwardpressure on the upper arms 32 until such time as the crest portions 38thereof clear the latch elements 54 as indicated in dotted lines in FIG.7, whereupon the inherent resilience of the latch arms 52 will effectautomatic restoration of these arms to their normal retracted positions,after which the pressure on the arms 32 may be relieved. In order tofacilitate such application of pressure to the arms 32, the base regionsof these arms may be provided with widened areas as indicated at 32a.

The use of two hands in manipulating the applicator affords a highdegree of steadiness of application in this manner and a high degree ofskill is not required. An operator with a slight degree of skill, whichmay readily be acquired after a small amount of practice, may prefer tomanipulate the applicator with only one hand as illustrated in HO. 1. Itis to be noted that whether one or two hands be used, the applicator maybe grasped between the thumb and middle finger as previously described,while the forefinger may be employed, in the case of single handoperation, selectively to manipulate either of the two latch elements54.

The invention is not to be limited to the exact arrangement of partsshown in the accompanying drawings or described in this specification asvarious changes in the details of construction may be resorted towithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

lclaim:

1. An applicator adapted to attach an artificial eyelash to an eyelidand comprising a lower U-shaped part of substantially flat plate-likeconstruction and including a pair of spaced apart, forwardly extending,generally parallel lower jaw arms and an interconnecting bight portion,an upper U-shaped part formed of yieldable resilient material,conforming generally to the shape of the lower part, and'including apair of forwardly extending, generally parallel upperjaw arms and aninterconnecting bight portion, means securing the bight portions of thetwo parts together in face-to-face relationship with the upper jaw armsoverlying the lower jaw arms in vertically opposed relationship wherebythe distal ends of such opposed jaw arms constitute opposed clampingjaws between which the end portions of the artificial eyelash areadapted to be clamped, the upper jaw arms of the upper part beinginherently biased to positions wherein the opposed clamping jaws assumespaced apart open eyelash releasing positions, each of said upper jawarms being of upwardly arched configuration to provide a medial humplikecrest portion with sloping proximate and distal end regions on oppositesides of the crest portion, each of said upper jaw arms being formedwith a longitudinally extending slot therein which traverses theassociated humplike crest portion and extends therebeyond a slightdistance into both the proximate and distal sloping end regions, a latcharm in the form ofa tension link having its lower end connected forswinging movement of the latch arm to a medial region of each lower jawarm and projecting upwardly through the slot in the overlying upper jawarm, and a manipulating latch element on the upper end of each latch armand overhanging at least one edge of the associated slot, the effectivelength of each latch arm being such that when the latch arm projectsthrough one end region of the associated slot the latch element thereonengages the adjacent distal sloping end region and draws the upperjawarm toward the underlying lowerjaw arm and thereby moves the opposedclamping jaws to eyelash clamping position, and when the latch armprojects through the other end region of the associated slot and latchelement thereon engages said proximate sloping end region and partiallyreleases the upper jaw arm and allows the same to release the jaws fromtheir eyelash clamping position.

2. An applicator as set forth in claim 1 and wherein the apex of eachcrest portion establishes an overcenter position for the associatedlatch element and across which the latch element passes during swingingmovement of the latch arm in either direction.

3. An applicator as set forth in claim 2 and wherein each latch arm isformed of flexible material and has its-lower end fixedly anchored tothe associated lowerjaw arm.

4. An applicator as set forth in claim 3 and wherein each latch armpossesses an appreciable degree of resistance in flexion and isinherently biased to a position wherein it projects through theassociated slot so that the latch element thereon overlies and engagesthe proximate sloping end region of the adjacent upperjaw arm.

1. An applicator adapted to attach an artificial eyelash to an eyelidand comprising a lower U-shaped part of substantially flat plate-likeconstruction and including a pair of spaced apart, forwardly extending,generally parallel lower jaw arms and an interconnecting bight portion,an upper U-shaped part formed of yieldable resilient material,conforming generally to the shape of the lower part, and including apair of forwardly extending, generally parallel upper jaw arms and aninterconnecting bight portion, means securing the bight portions of thetwo parts together in face-to-face relationship with the upper jaw armsoverlying the lower jaw arms in vertically opposed relationship wherebythe distal ends of such opposed jaw arms constitute opposed clampingjaws between which the end portions of the artificial eyelash areadapted to be clamped, the upper jaw arms of the upper part beinginherently biased to positions wherein the opposed clamping jaws assumespaced apart open eyelash releasing positions, each of said upper jawarms being of upwardly arched configuration to provide a medial humplikecrest portion with sloping proximate and distal end regions on oppositesides of the crest portion, each of said upper jaw arms being formedwith a longitudinally extending slot therein which traverses theassociated humplike crest portion and extends therebeyond a Slightdistance into both the proximate and distal sloping end regions, a latcharm in the form of a tension link having its lower end connected forswinging movement of the latch arm to a medial region of each lower jawarm and projecting upwardly through the slot in the overlying upper jawarm, and a manipulating latch element on the upper end of each latch armand overhanging at least one edge of the associated slot, the effectivelength of each latch arm being such that when the latch arm projectsthrough one end region of the associated slot the latch element thereonengages the adjacent distal sloping end region and draws the upper jawarm toward the underlying lower jaw arm and thereby moves the opposedclamping jaws to eyelash clamping position, and when the latch armprojects through the other end region of the associated slot and latchelement thereon engages said proximate sloping end region and partiallyreleases the upper jaw arm and allows the same to release the jaws fromtheir eyelash clamping position.
 2. An applicator as set forth in claim1 and wherein the apex of each crest portion establishes an overcenterposition for the associated latch element and across which the latchelement passes during swinging movement of the latch arm in eitherdirection.
 3. An applicator as set forth in claim 2 and wherein eachlatch arm is formed of flexible material and has its lower end fixedlyanchored to the associated lower jaw arm.
 4. An applicator as set forthin claim 3 and wherein each latch arm possesses an appreciable degree ofresistance in flexion and is inherently biased to a position wherein itprojects through the associated slot so that the latch element thereonoverlies and engages the proximate sloping end region of the adjacentupper jaw arm.